US Copper Scrap Traders Route Shipments Via Canada and Mexico to Dodge China Tariff

US metal dealers are rerouting shipments of scrap copper through third countries to sidestep a 10% tariff China imposes on the material, according to industry sources. Instead of shipping directly to Chinese ports, traders are sending the metal first to Canada, Mexico and Vietnam, where it is re-exported and enters China under different tariff classifications or through free-trade arrangements. The workaround underscores the commercial impact of Beijing’s levy on US copper scrap and highlights growing complexity in global metals trade as companies adapt to competing trade policies. Market participants say the rerouting adds logistical costs but remains cheaper than paying the tariff outright, preserving margins for US recyclers and Chinese buyers that rely on imported scrap for smelting and refining.